Emergency Medical Services

Emergency Medical Services Program

The Emergency Medical Services Program is designed for students who desire a career in pre-hospital emergency medicine. Our goal is to prepare competent entry-level paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/ or the Emergency Medical Technician and/or the Emergency Medical Responder levels. The program provides the successful student with the theoretical and practical preparation to obtain entry-level positions in the EMS workforce.

There are four levels of EMS training and education: Emergency Medical Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, Advanced EMT and Paramedics. They are licensed medical professionals who provide emergency medical care to the sick and injured. Students who enroll in the EMS program will pursue a course of study that leads to an Associate in Applied Science degree. EMR is a certification course taken in a continuing education format. EMT is a one-semester course. Advanced EMT training requires an additional semester beyond EMT. Paramedic training is the final three semesters and results in the AAS. Over the last three years, completers in EMS have 100 percent job placement.

EMS courses are taught at the Ayers Campus, the East Broad Campus and Gadsden State Cherokee. Clinical affiliates of the EMS Program are located in Gadsden, Albertville, Altoona, Anniston, Boaz, Centre, Fort Payne, Guntersville, Heflin, Jacksonville, Lineville, Oxford and Piedmont .

The Emergency Medical Services Program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs, the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions and the State of Alabama Department of Public Health – Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Background checks will be required upon admission into the program.

EMS Students

 

A new class is admitted to Emergency Medical Services training every semester. EMT classes start every semester while Advanced EMT classes start in the fall and spring and Medic classes start in the summer. Student selection is based on completion of all requirements:

  1. Unconditional admission to the college. Apply here
  2. Complete a program application prior to the Add/Drop deadline for each semester. Visit or call Jarvis Hall on the East Broad Campus to receive an application. Our phone number is 256-549-8689.
  3. Minimum college / high school GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
  4. Must be in good standing with the College
  5. Must meet the Essential Functions (see below) required for Emergency Medical Services students. 
  6. Pass a criminal background check and drug screen upon admission to the program.
  7. Submit a completed health questionnaire and immunizations records upon request by the program.
  8. Demonstrate proof of health insurance or sign up for a temporary health plan via third-party insurance companies. Students who do not show proof of health insurance will not be allowed to attend clinicals.
*EMT Short Term Certificate (12 Credit Hours)

(Offered Fall, Spring, Summer)

Hour(s) Course
9 hours EMS 118 - Emergency Medical Technician
1 hour EMS 119 - Emergency Medical Technician Clinical
1 hour EMS 100 - CPR
1 hour EMS 107 - Emergency Vehicle Operator Course
*Advanced EMT Short Term Certificate (9 Credit Hours)

(Offered Fall, Spring)

Hours Course
7 hours EMS 155 - Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
2 hours EMS 156 - Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Clinical
*Paramedic Short Term Certificate (29 Credit Hours) 

(Offered Summer) 

Paramedic Semester 1 (8 hours) Course
3 hours EMS 241 - Paramedic Cardiology
2 hours EMS 242 - Paramedic Patient Assessment
1 hour EMS 244 - Paramedical Clinical I
2 hours EMS 257 - Paramedic Applied Pharmacology
Paramedic Semester 2 (11 hours) Course
3 hours EMS 245 - Paramedic Medical Emergencies
3 hours EMS 246 - Paramedic Trauma Management
2 hours EMS 247 - Paramedic Special Populations
3 hours EMS 248 - Paramedic Clinical II
Paramedic Semester 3 (10 hours) Course
2 hours EMS 253 - Paramedic Transition to the Workforce
2 hours EMS 254 - Advanced Competencies for the Paramedic
5 hours EMS 255 - Paramedic Field Preceptorship
1 hour EMS 256 - Paramedic Team Leadership

*AAS Degree in Emergency Medical Services (65-74 Total Credit Hours)
All of the classes above plus:
Hour(s) Course
4 hours BIO 201 or 271 - Human Anatomy and Physiology
4 hours BIO 202 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
3 hours

ENG 101 - English Composition I

3 hours Fine Arts elective
3 hours MTH 100 - Intermediate College Algebra
1 hour ORI 101 - Orientation to College
3 hours PSY 200 - General Psychology

*(ACCUPLACER Reading Score of 75, Equivalent ACT, or ENG 101 required for program entry at any level)
*(Classes must have 12 students to make for the semester)

The State of Alabama created the Volunteer Rescue Student Tuition Reimbursement Program (Act 2018-524) in 2018. The legislation allows for students who obtain their EMT, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic certification from an Alabama Community College to be reimbursed their tuition costs for the training.

In order to qualify for the Volunteer Rescue Student Tuition Program, the applicant must commit - and show verification of a commitment - to at least three years of service to a volunteer fire or rescue squad. Volunteering as an EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic increases the worker's experience and helps local communities.

How it works

  1. Student submits program agreement and documents to ACCS
  2. ACCS reviews packet and if complete, issues reimbursement* to College
  3. College disburses reimbursement to student

*All funding is based on availability.

Application

 

The Emergency Medical Services Program is accredited by:

The Committee on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775
Phone: 727-210-2350
Fax: 727-210-2354
Email: mail@caahep.org
Website: caahep.org

The Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP)
8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312, Rowlett, TX 75088
Phone: 214-703-8445
Website: coaemsp.org

Alabama Department of Public Health - Office of EMS
208 Legends Court, Prattville, Alabama 36066
Phone: (334) 290-3088
Fax: (334) 206-0364
Website: www.alabamapublichealth.gov/ems/index.html

 

 

CONTACT:

John Hollingsworth MS, NRP EMS Program Director
256-549-8654

jhollingsworth@gadsdenstate.edu